Systems and methods for interference detection in shared spectrum channels

Abstract

A communication system, includes a satellite receiver in operable communication with a central server, a cellular node configured to operate within a proximity of the satellite receiver, and at least one mobile communication device configured to communicate (i) with the cellular node, (ii) within the proximity of the satellite receiver, and (iii) using a transmission signal capable of causing interference to the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver is configured to detect a repeating portion of the transmission signal and determine a potential for interference from the at least one mobile communication device based on the detected repeating portion.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of detecting interference to a satellite receiver from a mobile communications device in communication with a cellular node of a mobile cell in proximity to the satellite receiver, the method executed by a processor of a central server in operable communication with the cellular node, and comprising the steps of:
 confirming powering up of the cellular node; 
 capturing, after the step of confirming, a wireless broadcast signal from the cellular node within a target frequency band, the wireless broadcast signal including at least one primary synchronization signal (PSS) detectable by the mobile communications device for synchronization of the mobile communications device with the cellular node; 
 determining, from the captured wireless broadcast signal, the presence of the at least one PSS; and 
 instructing the cellular node, based on the determined presence of the at least one PSS within the captured wireless broadcast signal, to (i) operate at full power, (ii) operate at a second power level lower than full power, or (iii) cease operation. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular node is an eNodeB of a cellular tower. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular node and the mobile communications device operate according to a long term evolution (LTE) protocol. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the captured wireless broadcast signal further includes an LTE signal frame architecture having plurality of broadcast frames. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wherein each frame of the plurality of broadcast frames includes (i) a plurality of timing slots, and (ii) a plurality of symbols for each timing slot of the plurality of timing slots. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein each timing slot of the plurality of timing slots includes a single iteration of the at least one PSS. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presence of the at least one PSS is determined over a predetermined number of repeated iterations of the at least one PSS. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, after the step of confirming, a step of causing the cellular node to maintain a hold state that prevents the cellular node from transmitting data other than the at least one PSS for a predetermined amount of time that includes at least two consecutive iterations of the predetermined number of repeated iterations. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein, in the hold state, the cellular node operates a nominal power level lower than the second power level. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined number of iterations is based on a value of a PSS detection algorithm executed by the processor of the central server. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the value of the PSS detection algorithm is dynamically obtained using a measurement based protection scheme managed by the central server. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one PSS includes an autocorrelation function. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the autocorrelation function is based on a Zadoff-Chu sequence. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the central server is in operable communication with the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the central server is disposed integrally with the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the central server is disposed remotely from the satellite receiver. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the central server is disposed integrally with the cellular node. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the central server is disposed remotely from the cellular node. 
     
     
       19. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the central server comprises a spectrum access system. 
     
     
       20. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mobile communications device is a user equipment device.